sunburn

verb sun·burn \ -ˌbərn \

Definition of sunburn

sunburned play \-ˌbərnd\ or sunburnt play \-ˌbərnt\; sunburning

transitive verb

:to burn or discolor by the sun

intransitive verb

:to become sunburned

See sunburn defined for kids

Recent Examples of sunburn from the Web

Expert fix: Though aloe has always been the go-to sunburn soother because of its ability to cool skin and take down redness, Dhaval G. Bhanusali, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City thinks hyaluronic acid is even more effective.

— nicole catanese, Cosmopolitan, "The 8 Most Annoying Skin Problems Every Girl Deals With," 24 Aug. 2017
The line between sun-kissed and sunburned, one of the summer’s most alluring and dangerous games, is a thin one.

— mackenzie wagoner, Vogue, "This Pro Surfer’s Skin Secret Is Worth Stealing Now," 12 Aug. 2017
Sunscald - Green tomatoes can get sunburned if exposed.

— kym pokorny, OregonLive.com, "Grow the best tomatoes by recognizing, and solving, common problems," 11 June 2017
The group is thoroughly sunburned, and thoroughly loving it.

— oliver horovitz, Condé Nast Traveler, "Nullarbor Links, the Longest Golf Course in the World, Is a True Australian Adventure," 4 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sunburn.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of sunburn

back-formation from sunburned, from sun + burned

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1530

See Words from the same year

sunburn

noun

Definition of sunburn

:inflammation of the skin caused by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation especially from sunlight

See sunburn defined for English-language learners

Examples of sunburn in a Sentence

He has a bad sunburn.
Use sunscreen to prevent sunburn.

Recent Examples of sunburn from the Web

While sunburn and skin-on-rubber abrasions comprise the majority of trip injuries, each season finds a handful of fatalities among the more than 10 million river runners with a quarter being heart attacks.

— peter reese, Popular Mechanics, "Five Things to Know Before Running a Wild River," 11 Aug. 2017
In many cases, a tan can cause damage the same way that a sunburn can—dehydrating the skin, speeding up signs of aging, and even leading to melanoma (that’s skin cancer).

— adam hurly, GQ, "How Tan Is Too Tan?," 18 July 2017
Exposure to sun — and especially sunburn — dehydrates you.

— barbara gordon, idahostatesman, "Hydrate or die — recreating in extreme heat is no joke," 10 July 2017
Like the rest of us, recent sunburn survivor Alexander Skarsgård has to use the restroom from time to time.

— lisa ryan, The Cut, "Let Alexander Skarsgård Pee in Peace," 6 July 2017
The 26th of July Movement was as inevitable as an American holiday maker’s sunburn.

— peter lewis, The Christian Science Monitor, "'Havana' probes the mysteries and magic of the Cuban capital," 5 July 2017
N) 1 p.m. KCBS The Dr. Oz Show Losing fat without starving; sunscreen myths; home remedies for sunburns and summer heat rashes.

— ed stockly, latimes.com, "Wednesday's TV highlights: 'Little Big Shots: Forever Young' on NBC," 4 July 2017
Use it to recover quickly from sunburn, winter chapping, or to heal skin that is compromised as result of diabetes, cancer treatments, eczema, and psoriasis.

— adam hurly, GQ, "The Best Hand Creams for a Confident Handshake," 30 June 2017
Why go to the beach, where there are sunburns to be gotten?

— laura bradley, VanityFair.com, "7 Perfect TV Binges to Keep You Busy All Summer Long," 29 June 2017

First Known Use of sunburn

1652

SUNBURN Defined for English Language Learners

sunburn

noun

Definition of sunburn for English Language Learners

: a condition in which your skin becomes sore and red from too much sunlight

SUNBURN Defined for Kids

sunburn

noun sun·burn \ ˈsən-ˌbərn \

Definition of sunburn for Students

:a sore red state of the skin caused by too much sunlight

sunburn

verb

Definition of sunburn for Students

sunburned \-ˌbərnd\ or sunburnt \-ˌbərnt\; sunburning

:to burn or discolor by exposure to the sun

Medical Dictionary

sunburn

transitive verb sun·burn \ -ˌbərn \

medical Definition of sunburn

sunburned play \-ˌbərnd\ or sunburnt play \-ˌbərnt\; sunburning

:to affect with sunburn

sunburned skin

sunburn

noun

medical Definition of sunburn

:inflammation of the skin caused by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation especially from sunlight — called also erythema solare

Learn More about sunburn

See words that rhyme with sunburn Spanish Central: Translation of sunburn Nglish: Translation of sunburn for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sunburn

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sunburn

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First Known Use of sunburn

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sunburn

Definition of sunburn for English Language Learners

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Medical Dictionary

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sunburn

medical Definition of sunburn

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